The Leone Stars will prepare for Niger by playing Nigeria next week

Sierra Leone's FA (SLFA) has confirmed that the Leone Stars will play a hastily-arranged friendly against Nigeria in Lagos on 9 February.

Nigeria had been scheduled to play Guatemala in the United States that day but the match was called off this week.

The SLFA says it has sanctioned the friendly request made in a letter from the Nigerian federation on Tuesday.

Both teams will use the game to prepare for the resumption of 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March.

The Leone Stars will play Niger in Niamey on 27 March in Group G, while the Super Eagles battle it out at home to Ethiopia that same weekend in Group B.

BBC Sport understands that Swedish coach Lars Olof Mattson will not be in charge of the friendly encounter, with local man Christian Cole assigned instead.

However, Cole has said he will not make the trip since he will be preparing Ports Authority FC for the Confederation Cup match against Senegal's Toure Kunda Footpro on 12 February.

The onus now falls on assistant coach Prince Toe and 39 players have already been contacted about the match.

One of those is former Inter Milan striker Mohammed Kallon, who's in line to make his first appearance for Sierra Leone since 2008.

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